Connecting structure

ABSTRACT

Structure for connecting two members together, each including parallel, spaced apart, oppositely disposed, opposed surfaces having a cross section including a short straight portion adjacent one edge thereof, a longer obliquely extending portion extending from the other edge thereof and merging with an arcuate connecting portion which intersects the shorter straight portion, which surfaces are complementary and arranged to be in engagement with the members assembled. In one modification of the invention, the oblique portion of the surface cross section starts prior to the plane of the short straight line portion of the cross section and crosses it prior to merging with the connecting portion of the cross section. In another modification, the cross section of the surfaces of one member is formed with short straight portions at both edges of the surfaces with obliquely extending portions extending both ways from the center of the surface terminating in separate arcuate portions intersecting the short straight portions of the cross section. The connecting structure may be utilized to implement fasteners similar to nuts and bolts, may be utilized to secure a plurality of annular or polygonal members in a single plane, and to connect a plurality of separate members serially. Further, the connecting structure of the invention has particular application in a variety of boxes, hangers, connectors and fasteners.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to connecting structures and refers morespecifically to structure for releasably or permanently connecting twomembers together due to the configuration of certain portions thereofwithout additional structure.

2. Description of the Prior Art

In the past, connecting structures have taken the form of screw threads,clamping or snap-in members, and the like.

Clamping or snap-in members have a particular advantage in rapidassembly and disassembly. However, in the past, such members have oftenbeen deficient in that they have been either difficult to assemble orhave been too loose when assembled, or have required extreme resiliencewhich could not be obtained with many otherwise desirable materials.Further, re-use of many previous clamping or snap-in devices has beenimpossible. That is, once assembled, they are destroyed by disassemblyso that they are incapable of being re-used.

Further, prior connecting structures have generally not beensufficiently versatile to permit the use of the same structure forpermanent connections and releasable connections and to permitsubstantially the same structure to be used over a wide variety ofmaterial having different resiliency and in a wide variety ofapplications.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the invention, basic connecting structure has beenprovided for connecting two members together. In accordance with theinvention, the members have opposed parallel surfaces which haveoppositely directed cross sections, each including a short portionadjacent one edge thereof, a diagonal portion extending from the otheredge thereof terminating in a connecting portion which in turnintersects the short portion. The surfaces on the two members arecomplementary and are spaced apart and arranged so that the surfaces onthe two members are engaged on placing the members in the position it isdesired to have them in when they are connected.

In accordance with the invention, the cross section of the engagingsurfaces on the two members may be either oppositely directed ordirected in the same direction. The diagonally extending portion of thesurface cross sections may start in the plane of the short portion ofthe surface cross section or may start so as to be required to cross theplane of the short portion of the cross section prior to merging withthe connecting portion of the cross section so as to permit use of lessresilient material, and the cross section of the parallel surfaces ofone of the members may be a composite of the cross section of the samesurfaces positioned in opposite directions so as to prevent assembly ofthe other member therewith in the wrong direction.

Further, in accordance with the invention, the connecting structure maybe utilized to connect members serially, that is, linearly or in thesame plane. In addition, the connecting structure may be used inconjunction with a plurality of different boxes to secure tops theretoand with devices such as towel and paper racks, furniture and elongatedfasteners, etc. Accordingly, it is not intended that the utilization ofthe connecting structure of the invention be limited by the specificutilization thereof disclosed herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partial section view of a member having a surface thereonincluding the configuration of the connecting structure of theinvention.

FIG. 2 is a partial section view of a member similar to that of FIG. 1showing a first modification of the configuration of the connectingstructure surface of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a partial section view of a member similar to that of FIG. 1,showing a second modification of the configuration of the connectingstructure.

FIG. 4 is a partial section view of connecting structure constructed inaccordance with the invention on one member for use in a particularapplication of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a partial section view of connecting structure constructed inaccordance with the invention on one member for use in anotherparticular application of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a partial section view of connecting structure constructed inaccordance with the invention on one member for use in still anotherparticular application of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a partial section view of connecting structure constructed inaccordance with the invention utilized in stud fastener applications.

FIG. 8 is a partial section view of modified connecting structureconstructed in accordance with the invention also utilized in studfastener applications.

FIG. 9 is a partial section view of connecting structure generallysimilar to that shown in FIG. 7 illustrating the invention as shown inFIG. 7 applied to a flat plate.

FIG. 10 is a section view illustrating two members in the process ofbeing connected together by the connecting structure of the inventionincluding surfaces as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 11 is a section view illustrating the members as shown in FIG. 10in the process of being connected together with the members reversed.

FIG. 12 is a section view illustrating two members in the process ofbeing connected together by the connecting structure of the inventionincluding surfaces as shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 13 is a section view illustrating the members as shown in FIG. 12in the process of being connected together with the members reversed.

FIG. 14 is a section view illustrating two members in the process ofbeing connected together by the connecting structure of the inventionincluding surfaces as shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 15 is similar to FIG. 12 and in addition shows the membersconnected together with additional connecting structure constructed inaccordance with the invention as particularly shown in FIG. 9.

FIG. 16 is a section view illustrating the use of the connectingstructure of the invention as shown in FIG. 7 in serially connectingmembers together.

FIG. 17 illustrates the use of the connecting structure of the inventionas shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 utilized in connecting a plurality of memberstogether in the same plane.

FIG. 18 is a section view of the members of FIG. 17 connected togetherin the same plane by the connecting structure of the invention.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a novelty box constructed to permitsecuring a top thereto by the connecting structure of the invention.

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of the top of the novelty box illustratedin FIG. 19.

FIG. 21 is a section view of the novelty box illustrated in FIG. 19taken substantially on the line 21--21 in FIG. 19.

FIG. 22 is a section view of the novelty box illustrated in FIG. 19taken substantially on the line 22--22 in FIG. 19.

FIG. 23 is an enlarged partial section view of the novelty boxillustrated in FIG. 19 taken in the circle 23 in FIG. 21.

FIG. 24 is an enlarged partial section view of the novelty boxillustrated in FIG. 19 taken in the circle in FIG. 22.

FIG. 25 is an enlarged partial section view of the novelty boxillustrated in FIG. 19 taken in the circle 25 in FIG. 22.

FIG. 26 is an enlarged partial section view of the top of the noveltybox illustrated in FIG. 20 taken in the circle 26 in FIG. 20.

FIG. 27 is an enlarged partial section view of the top of the noveltybox illustrated in FIG. 20 taken in the circle 27 in FIG. 20.

FIG. 28 is a section view of a towel rack including members connectedtogether by the connecting structure of the invention.

FIG. 29 is an elevation view partly in section of a paper rack includingmembers connected together by the connecting structure of the invention.

FIG. 30 is an elevation view partly in section of furniture structureincluding members connected together by the connecting structure of theinvention.

FIG. 31 is a longitudinal section view of fastener structure utilizingconnecting structure in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 32 is a partial section view similar to FIG. 31 showing amodification of the connecting structure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As shown specifically in FIG. 10, the connecting structure 10 of theinvention is utilized on a pair of members 12 and 14, each having a pairof opposed parallel surfaces such as surfaces 16 and 18 of member 12 andsurfaces 20 and 22 of member 14, inversely oriented on the same memberand are complementary wherein the surfaces of the separate membersengage each other to hold the members 12 and 14 in assembly.

The surfaces 16, 18, 20 and 22 have a particular configuration, whichconfiguration is particularly oriented on the members as shown in FIG.10. The particular configuration of the surface 18 is shown in sectionin FIG. 1.

As shown in FIG. 1, the section of surface 18 includes a relativelyshort straight portion 24 extending substantially perpendicularly to thebottom 26 of the recess 28. Surface 18 further includes a longer,substantially straight section portion 30 starting from the generalplane of the straight portion 24 on the edge of surface 18 opposite theshort portion 24 and extending obliquely thereto at an angle ofapproximately 10°. Further, the surface 18, as shown, merges graduallywith the arcuate connecting portion 32 of the section of surface 18,which connecting portion then terminates at the shorter portion 24 ofthe section of surface 18 and at the point of termination issubstantially perpendicular to the short portion 24.

While the surface 18 of the connecting structure 10 is preferably asshown in FIG. 1, it will be understood that the surface may be modifiedin accordance with the invention within the scope of the invention.Thus, for example, the arcuate portion 32 of the cross section ofsurface 18 may be replaced by a second short linear portionsubstantially defined by the cord of the arcuate portion 32 to connectthe lower terminal end of the short portion 24 and the upper terminalend of the oblique portion 30. Further, surface portion 24 need not bestraight or perpendicular to the bottom 26 of recess 28.

The basic connecting structure 10 may also be modified to provideconnecting structure 34, as particularly shown in FIG. 12. Theconnecting structure 34 again is utilized to connect the members 36 and38 and includes the parallel spaced apart surfaces 40 and 42 on thesides of recess 44 in the member 36 having the bottom 46 and sides 48and 50 on the member 38.

More specifically, the surfaces 40, 42, 48 and 50 of the connectingstructure 34 are as shown in section in FIG. 2. Thus, the surface 42includes a short, substantially straight portion 52 extendingsubstantially perpendicularly to the bottom 46 of the recess 44. Thesurface 42 also includes a longer, substantially straight portion 54extending from the bottom 46 of the recess 44 obliquely to the plane ofthe surface portion 52, which obliquely extending surface starts at apoint inwardly of the recess 44 with respect to surface portion 52, byan amount designated in FIG. 2 between the arrows 56 and 58, whereby thesurface 54 must subsequently cross the plane of the shorter surface 52.The obliquely extending surface 54 then again terminates in an arcuatesurface 60 which itself terminates at the intersection thereof with theshorter, straight surface 52 substantially perpendicular thereto.

Again, the surface 42 may be slightly modified within the scope of theinvention to, for example, include an angularly extending surface inplace of the arcuate connecting surface portion 60 which is essentiallya cord of the surface 60. The surface 52 need not be straight and neednot be exactly perpendicular to the bottom 46 of the recess 44 as shownbut may extend obliquely thereto as, for example, at an anglesubstantially the same as the angle which the member 54 makes with thebottom of the recess 44.

In the further modified connecting structure 62 shown in FIG. 14,utilized to connect the members 64 and 66 together, the member 64includes the surfaces 68 and 70 in the recess 72 having the bottom 74.Member 66 has the surfaces 76 and 78 thereon.

The surfaces 76 and 78 may be the same as the surfaces 20 and 22 or 48and 50 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and FIGS. 10 and 12.

Surfaces 68 and 70 may be substantially the same. Surface 70 is shown inFIG. 3. Surface 70 includes the relatively short portions 80 and 82 atthe opposite edges thereof and slightly longer, oblique portions 84 and86 starting from substantially the plane of the surfaces 80 and 82 andextending outwardly of the recess 72 as shown into the member 64 at anangle of approximately 10° from the center of the depth of the recess.The surface portions 84 and 86 terminate in arcuate surface portions 88and 90, which arcuate surface portions terminate at the short surfaceportions 80 and 82 substantially perpendicular thereto, as before.

The surface 70 is thus a composite of surfaces such as 18 or 42 ininverse positions with all the material of the member 64 deletedtherefrom which would be deleted with surfaces 18 or 42 in both theposition shown in FIG. 1 or 2 and in the inverse position.

Referring now to the particular connecting structure 10 illustrated inFIG. 10, it will be noted that the surfaces 18 and 20, while having thesame configuration, are in inverse relation. That is to say, the surface18 as shown in FIG. 10 has the short, straight portion at the topthereof and the obliquely extending portion at the bottom. The surface16 has the short, straight portion at the bottom and the obliquelyextending portion at the top thereof. The surfaces 20 and 22 arecomplementary to the respective surfaces 16 and 18. That is to say,their form is as shown in FIG. 10 and the surfaces match exactly thesurfaces 16 and 18 with the member 14 completely positioned in therecess 26. Thus, the surfaces 20 and 22 are also in inverse relationwith respect to each other and are parallel spaced apart surfaces as arethe surfaces 18 and 20.

The connecting structure as shown in FIG. 10 is particularly adaptablefor use with resilient or semi-resilient material such as thermoplasticsand the like. Thus, the member 14 may be positioned in the recess 26 byslightly deforming the members 12 and 14 after the members have beenpositioned as shown in FIG. 10 to permit the corner of the member 14 topass the projection formed by the surface 18 in the recess 26.

After assembly of the member 14 into recess 26 in the member 12, removalof the member 14 while possible is difficult. The connection between themembers 12 and 14 is substantial. Also, it will be noted that theconnection may be made without any tools. The members 12 and 14 can ofcourse take any configuration outside of the recess 26 and outside thesurfaces of the member 14 which fit into the recess 26. The particularconfiguration of the members 12 and 14 in FIG. 10 is only to show theconnecting structure of the invention and not to show particularapplication thereof, which applications are considered hereinsubsequently.

Should it be desired that the connection between the members 12 and 14be even more permanent than that provided with the releasable structure10 indicated in FIG. 10, the connection between the members 12 and 14may be more permanent if the member 14 is turned side for side or topfor bottom as shown in FIG. 11 and the member 14 again positioned in therecess 26. With the member 14 so positioned with the surface 22 forexample as shown in FIG. 11 adjacent the surface 16 of the recess 26 andwith the surface 20 adjacent the surface 18 in the recess 26, it issubstantially impossible to separate the members 12 and 14.

The connecting structure 34 particularly illustrated in FIG. 12 differsfrom that illustrated in FIG. 10 in that the recess 44 is eitherslightly wider or the member 38 is slightly narrower. The difference indimensions being substantially the dimension shown in FIG. 2 between thearrows 56 and 58. Thus, the connecting structure 34 of FIG. 12 isparticularly useful with material having less resiliency such as wood,some metals, and some less resilient plastics.

Again, a tighter connection can be made with the modified connectingstructure 34 by inverting the member 38 as shown in FIG. 13 so that thebottom 96 becomes the top of the member 38 and the top 96 of the member38 as shown in FIG. 12 becomes the bottom of the member 38 as shown inFIG. 13. Again, the connection between the members 38 and 36 issubstantially permanent as shown in FIG. 13.

The particular connecting structure 62 of FIG. 14 including surfaces asparticularly shown in FIG. 3 has been provided to make the member 66universal; this is, the member 66 may be positioned in the recess 72 inthe member 64 without regard to orientation of the member 66. That is,as to top, bottom, right or left side. Again, the surfaces 68 and 70 maybe constructed in accordance with the difference in the surfaces shownin FIG. 1 or 2 depending upon the resiliency of the material of whichthe members 66 and 64 are constructed.

Obviously, the member 66 will, due to the peculiar structure of thesurfaces 68 and 70, be universal with regard to orientation. That is,the connection between the members 64 and 66 will be substantially thesame regardless of the top, bottom and side orientation of the member66. The connection of the members 64 and 66 will thus be similar to oneof the connections 10 and 12 in all orientations of the member 66.

The connecting structures of FIGS. 10-14 having surfaces as shown inFIGS. 1-3 may be utilized for example to connect various shaped membersserially. Thus, particularly referring to FIG. 16, the members 98 and100 are connected together with connecting structure 10, with theunderstanding that a second member such as member 98 may be connected tothe member 100 shown in FIG. 16, while a second member such as themember 100 may be connected to the member 98 as shown in FIG. 16, andadditional members such as members 98 and 100 may be connected in lineor serially to the added members as long as a desired linear or serialconnection is desired.

Again, the particular configuration of the members 98 as shown in FIG.16 is not critical except in the area of the recesses 102 and 104. Theopposite sides of the recesses, that is, the sides 106 and 108 of therecess 102 and the sides 110 and 112 of the recess 104 may have theconfiguration shown in any of FIGS. 1-3 and are inversely oriented withrespect to each other. As shown, the surfaces 106, 108, 110 and 112 arethe same as the surface 18 in FIG. 1. The member 100 then is providedwith surfaces 114 and 116 which are similar to or the same as thesurfaces 20, 22 in FIG. 10 which are as shown inversely oriented. Themember 100, however, then has the further surfaces 118 and 120 which arethe same as surfaces 114 and 116 and are again oriented inversely withrespect to these particular surfaces as shown in FIG. 16. Again, all thesurfaces on the member 100 may be as the surface 18 or surfaces 54 or 70as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 depending on the resiliency of whichthe material of the members 98 and 100 are constructed. One completesurface 121 of the member 100 is illustrated by itself in detail in FIG.4.

The structure shown in FIG. 17 includes three separate members 122, 124and 126 which it is desired to connect together in a single plane by theconnecting structure of the invention. The members 122, 124 and 126 areshown in transverse section connected together in a single plane in FIG.18.

The member 122 in accordance with the invention is provided with flatend surfaces 128 and 130 generally perpendicular to the plane of themember and is provided with side surfaces 132 and 134 which aresubstantially the same as the side surfaces 20 and 22 of the member 14as shown in FIG. 10. The side surfaces 132 and 134 could of course bethe same as the side surfaces 48 and 50 of the member 38 and can be thesame as the surfaces 18 and 42 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in inverserelation on the opposite sides of the member 122 as desired and asrequired in accordance with the resiliency of the material utilized.

The member 124 of FIG. 17 then as shown is generally polygonal and moreparticularly rectangular in form and has the rectangular opening 136extending therethrough including the flat end surfaces 138 and 140 inthe opening 136 and the flat end surfaces 142 and 144 as shown in FIG.17. The side surfaces 146 and 148 of the opening 136 are thenconstructed complementary to the surfaces 132 and 134 of the member 122and are thus similar to the surfaces 16 and 18 of the connectingstructure 10 or similar to the side surfaces 40 and 42 of the connectingstructure 34. The surfaces 146 and 148 may also be similar to thesurfaces 68 and 70 of the member 64, if desired. The outer side surfaces150 and 152 of the member 124 as shown in FIG. 17 are then similar tothe surfaces 20 and 22 of the modification 10 of the connectingstructure or are similar to the surfaces 48 and 50 of the modification34 of the connecting structure of FIG. 12.

The member 126 is substantially the same as the member 124 and again hasthe straight, flat end surfaces 154 and 156 in the opening 158 and theinversely oriented side surfaces 160 and 162 having a configurationcomplementary to the surfaces 150 and 152 of the member 124. The outerend surfaces 164 and 166 and the side surfaces 168 and 170 may of coursehave any configuration since the connecting of the three members 122,124 and 126 together does not depend upon the outer end or side surfacesof the member 126. As shown, these surfaces are similar to the outer endand side surfaces of the member 122.

A similar modification of the connecting structure of the invention tothat utilized in connecting the members 122, 124 and 126 is shown inFIGS. 5 and 6. Thus, the member 172 shown in cross section in FIG. 6will fit within the opening 174 of the member 176 shown in cross sectionin FIG. 5. The basic structure of members 172 and 174 utilizes inverselyoriented side portions 178 and 180 and 182 and 184 which again may be inaccordance with the surfaces illustrated in FIGS. 1-3.

The basic structure of FIGS. 5 and 6 may thus be utilized to connectmembers such as that shown in FIGS. 17 and 18 or alternatively, forexample, the member 180 may be a projection 186 on a stud 188 as shownin FIG. 7, or may be a projection 190 on a plane 192 as shown in FIG. 9.Again, the side surfaces 194 and 196 and the side surfaces 198 and 200may be the same as the side surfaces shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 2, asdesired. The end surfaces of the projections 186 and 190 as shown may beflat surfaces as are the end surfaces in the opening 174 of member 176and on the member 172 and as shown on the members 122, 124 and 126 inFIG. 17.

The projection 186 may in fact include a slot 202 therein extendingparallel to the side surfaces 194 and 196 on the stud 188 to facilitateinserting the projection 202 into an opening as for example the openingin the member 176 illustrated in FIG. 5.

As shown in FIG. 15, the projection 200 on the plane 192 may be utilizedin conjunction with connecting structure such as shown in FIGS. 10, 12and 14. Specifically, the connector structure of FIG. 12 is illustratedin FIG. 15. The member 38 of FIG. 12 is then provided with the recess204 therein having parallel inversely oriented spaced apart sides 206and 208 therein. The recess 204 is as shown in FIG. 15 entirelycomplementary to the projection 200 and aids in securing the member 38to the member 36.

The connecting structure of the invention is shown in a particularstructure, that is, a novelty or stop box 210 in FIGS. 20-27.

The box 210 includes a container 212 and a cover 214 for the container212. The cover 214 is secured to the container 212 by the connectingstructure of the invention. As shown, the connecting structure 10 isutilized in the box 210, although connecting structures 34 or 62 may beutilized in conjunction therewith along with the modifications thereofcoming within the scope of the invention.

More specifically, the container 212 includes a front 216, a back 218,sides 220 and 222 and bottom 224. As shown, the front, back and sidesare tapered slightly such as by 2° or so toward the bottom 224.

The ends 226 and 228 of the opening in the top 230 of the container 212are substantially as shown in FIG. 23. They include substantiallystraight, flat portions 232 and 234 inset in the sides 220 and 222 toform ledges 236 and 238 at the opposite ends of the opening 230 on whichthe top 214 rests.

The top 214 is provided with flat end surfaces 240 and 242 adapted tofit snugly against the surfaces 232 and 234 with the top in assembly inthe opening in the top of the container 212.

The sides 244 and 246 of the opening 230 are formed with parallel spacedapart, inversely oriented surfaces at the upper ends thereof which aresubstantially the same as the surfaces of the connecting structure 10shown in FIG. 10, while the sides 248 and 250 of the top 214 areprovided with surfaces such as surfaces 220 and 222 of the member 214 ofthe connecting structure 10 so that once the top 214 is positioned onthe container 212, it is extremely difficult to remove.

It will be understood that the top may be placed on the container in aninverted manner as shown in FIGS. 12 and 14. Further, the connectingstructure utilized in the box 210 may be in accordance with anymodification within the scope of the invention.

The utility of the box 210 is as a novelty box. For example, the box 210and lid 214 may be made of a smoky plastic material which permitsviewing of material placed inside the container 212. The box 210 couldthen be utilized to hold a package of cigarettes of a smoker who desiresto quit smoking, with the idea being that the box 210 will be the onlycigarette case the smoker will ever need because he cannot get into itto get the cigarettes, or it will at least be difficult to open the caseto get a cigarette.

Other uses of other boxes of configurations having tops connected inaccordance with the invention are envisioned. For example, containersmay be utilized for encapsulating capacitors or other electricalequipment, particularly those involving high voltage. Similar boxescould be used for rubber stamp pads or containers wherein the tops haveprojections or handles thereon for permitting opening thereof. Theutilization of the invention to secure lids and containers together areunlimited. Thus, the invention contemplates the use of the containersfor toxic waste, for butterfly cases, etc. Further, the invention is notlimited to utilization in conjunction with boxes.

As shown in FIG. 28, the connecting structure of the invention may beutilized to secure a towel rack 252 to a wall 254. In such use, abracket 256 is secured to the wall by convenient means such as screws258 or the like, while the actual towel hanging bar 260 is supported incarriers 262 at each end thereof, which carriers include a recess 264therein for receiving the brackets 256. Each bracket 256 is then formedas for example any of the members 16, 38 and 62 in the connectingstructures 10, 34 and 62 as shown in FIGS. 10, 12 and 14, while thecarriers 262 are constructed so that the recesses 264 are in the shapeof the recesses 26, 54 and 72 in the connecting structure shown in FIGS.10, 12 and 14.

As shown in FIG. 29, the bracket 266 of a paper dispenser 268 mayinclude the recess 270 therein while the carrier 272 for the paperholding roller 274 may include the projection 276 thereon. In thestructure as shown in FIG. 29, the bracket 266 is again secured to thewall 278 by the screws 280. Further, in the construction of FIG. 29 thebracket 266 includes the recess 270 therein which is similar to one ofthe recesses 26, 44 and 72 in the connecting structures shown in FIGS.10, 12 and 14, while the carrier 272 includes the projection 276 whichis similar to the members 14, 38 and 66 in FIG. 5.

A further utilization of the connecting structure of the invention isillustrated in FIG. 30 wherein a table top 282 and a table leg 284 areconnected together by a bracket 286 and a connecting member 288. Again,the bracket 286 and connecting member 288 have connecting structuretherein as shown best in FIG. 10, but may have the connecting structureincorporated therein as shown in FIGS. 12 and 14.

As shown in FIGS. 31 and 32, the structure of the invention particularlyas shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 is utilized to provide fasteners 290 and 292.Such fasteners are in the nature of bolt and nut fasteners, with themember 294 acting as a bolt and the member 296 acting as a nut.Similarly, the partially shown member 298 acts as a bolt while themember 300 would act as a nut on the end of the fastener 292.

While one embodiment and modifications of the invention have beenconsidered in detail herein, it will be understood that otherembodiments and modifications are contemplated. It is the intention toinclude all such embodiments and modifications as are defined by theappended claims within the scope of the invention.

I claim:
 1. Connecting structure comprising a first member having spacedapart opposed, oppositely directed substantially identical surfaces eachof which have a cross section configuration including a short portion atone edge of the surface, a longer portion extending obliquely inwardlyof the member and a connecting portion connecting the short portion andoblique portion of the surface cross section configuration and a secondmember having complementary spaced apart surfaces thereon adapted toengage the surfaces of the first member to secure the first and secondmembers together.
 2. Structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein theoblique portion of the surface cross section configuration startsexactly in the plane of the short portion of the surface cross sectionconfiguration.
 3. Structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein the obliqueportion of the surface cross section configuration starts outwardly ofthe plane of the short portion so as to cross the plane of the shortportion of the surface prior to intersecting the connecting portion ofthe surface cross section configuration.
 4. Structure as set forth inclaim 1, wherein the opposed surfaces of the first member include shortportions at both edges thereof, an obliquely extending portion extendingfrom the middle thereof outwardly of the first members, which obliquelyextending portions merge into connecting portions which engage the shortportions.
 5. Structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein the secondmember is positioned with respect to the first member whereby theconnecting portions of the surface cross section configurations whichare on opposite sides thereof are adjacent opposite edges thereof. 6.Structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein the short portion and obliqueportion of the surface cross section configuration are straight linesand the connecting portion is arcuate.
 7. Structure as set forth inclaim 1, wherein the first member is generally rectangular and two ofthe opposing sides of the rectangle have the opposed surfaces thereon.8. Structure as set forth in claim 7, wherein the first member is arelatively long, narrow member and the opposed surfaces are at one endthereof.
 9. Structure as set forth in claim 8, and further including aslot extending axially across the one end of the first member. 10.Structure as set forth in claim 7, wherein the first member is securedon a flat member having substantial dimensions in two directionsdefining a plane from which the first member extends.
 11. Structure asset forth in claim 1, wherein the first member is generally rectangularand has a rectangular opening therethrough and said parallel surfacesare two opposed surfaces of the opening therethrough.
 12. Structure asset forth in claim 11, wherein the first member is generally rectangularand the parallel surfaces are two opposed side surfaces of therectangular mamber.
 13. Structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein thefirst member further includes second, parallel, spaced apart, obliquelydirected surfaces each having a short portion at one edge thereof, alonger portion extending obliquely to the short portion and a connectingportion intersecting the obliquely extending portion and the shortportion whereby a third member may be connected to said second parallelsurfaces to connect said second and third members through the firstmember.